I cannot get enough Harry Potter – and I know I’m not alone. As soon as I got my hands on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, I devoured it. That came out last year, and around the same time another piece to the Potter world was released – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It’s an original screenplay, written by Ms. Rowling. So not an official Harry book, it does tie into the series. The title actually comes from the name of a textbook used by students at Hogwarts.
Newt Scamander is the main character of the story, the character played by Eddie Redmayne in the movie. He is a magi-zoologist (someone who takes care of magical creatures – kind of like Hagrid). The story takes place in 1920s New York, and it seems as if these beasts are taking over the city. The imagery in the book is amazing, and the movie takes it to another level. No one has quite the imagination as Ms. Rowling, which is why she is 
hands-down my favorite author.
What’s also interesting is that in the story (screenplay??), there is a peek into the wizarding world of New York City. There is a large and thriving magic community in the states, with a wizarding school that rivals Hogwarts. Newt is British, and is definitely an outsider. He’s trying to blend in, not just with American wizards, but in a bustling NYC. He seems to be on the run, and he claims to be looking for a certain species, yet is accused of coming to New York and setting some of these beasts free. This again is an amazing visual – even without seeing the movie.
There is dark magic, and in one part of the story Newt faces an execution committee. It was a fun and quick read, and I can only hope that Ms Rowling keeps writing, and keeps taking us back to the wizarding world! Side note – when is the next Cormoran Strike book coming out??
What Will She Read Next? 